Hey That's Not Fair: Tiger Loses Ball and Gets Free Drop While Ryan Moore Gets Robbed

They did their best to keep him in the tournament for the week but in the end not even a free drop after a lost ball could save Tiger Woods from missing the cut.

Woods hit a ball into fans on the fifth but  no golf ball could be found.  One older man in the crowd said he thought he saw it come down.   PGA Tour vice president for rules and competition (and obviously huge Tiger Woods fan) Mark Russell said. “People said they saw the ball bounce and go in that area and when people got around it, then it was gone.”

Russell decided not to declare the lost ball, a lost ball. Woods finished 1 under and missed the cut.

Meanwhile Ryan Moore got a penalty heaped on him when his ball moved before he tapped it in on the 11th.  Apparently the rule change which was supposed to exonerate players who dont make their balls move didnt apply.

“I thought that was the whole point of the rule change after Webb Simpson’s incident last year,” Moore said. “I thought was to alleviate that because I certainly did not make the ball move and I thought that was the whole point of the rule change.”

The Rule says

Rule 18-2b – the Ball Moving After Address rule – was amended at the start of 2012 to state that a player may be excused from penalty “if their ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that they did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.”

So its one rule for Tiger and a different rule for everyone else.

Second Round Highlights from the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship

Kelly Villarreal from Big Break Atlantis. Oh My God it's Wonder Woman!!

It's Big Break time again on the Golf Channel and this time it's the ladies in Atlantis.  Being the thorough professional that I am, I decided to check out the biogs of the contestants.

For some reason my laptop keeps getting stuck on one player, Kelly Villarreal. Wow!  She's Lynda Carter for the 21st century.  And I loved Wonder Woman!  Here's her intro film

How To Apply For and Get 2013 US Masters Tickets

It has always been a dream of mine to go to the Masters and now the selection process is open again.  A "very limited", (that's even less than limited!!), number of tickets are now available on www.masters.com.

The 2013 US  Masters takes place from April 11th - 14th and the application deadline is June 30, 2012.

Here's the 2013 US Masters Ticket application page.

PRACTICE ROUNDS TICKETS
Practice Rounds tickets are daily grounds passes valid for one of the three Practice Round days (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday). Practice Rounds tickets cost $50 each.

DAILY TOURNAMENT TICKETS
Daily Tournament tickets are daily grounds passes valid for one of the four Tournament days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday). Daily Tournament tickets cost $75 each.

For additional information regarding ticketing please contact the Masters Tournament Ticket Office at (706) 667-6700.  Good Luck!

Paul Lawrie Says US Open Too Tough For Him. Not Going To Bother

Cant believe this but it's true. Most players would give their right testicle to play in any Major not least a US Open, but here's Paul Lawrie reasoning that though he has a place in the field, he's not going to take it.  He's played in four and made the cut once and reckons if he saves himself for the European Tour event in Cologne the following week, he stands a better chance of getting Ryder Cup points.


"My record in the U.S. Open is not good and I understand that it is a major, but I feel I have more chance of playing well at the BMW International Open the week after," Lawrie said at the Spanish Open. "I know people are going to be surprised ... but I stand more chance of earning Ryder Cup points at the BMW in Cologne then in the U.S. Open in California."

 "So it's a decision I had been thinking about for a long time and I knew it was going to be an issue but if you know you can't compete in a particular tournament, then why go?"

Webb Simpson Ridiculous Eagle at Wells Fargo

Great start by one of tipped players for the week, Webb Simpson. He lives less than a mile from the course and used his local knowledge to the full.
Here's what he did on the 8th.

Bubba Swaps Players for Diapers and TPC for TLC

Bubba Watson is out of the Players Championship.  Here's how he told the world on twitter.

"I've decided to pull out of the Players. I need to spend more time with Caleb and Angie, plan to take at least a month off #familytime. The PLAYERS is one of the best weeks of the year but bonding with my son and wife is what it is all about right now.”"

We salute you Bubba!

Rory McIlroy's 2012 Playing Schedule

Rory spoke yesterday about his light schedule in 2012 but nobody is telling us what is actually is. So here it is from this week on.

May 3rd- Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow
May 10th- The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass
May 24th- BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth
May 31st- The Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village
June 14th- US Open, Olympic Club
June 28th- Irish Open, Royal Portrush
July 19th- The Open, Royal Lytham
Aug 2nd- WGC Bridgestone Invitational, Firestone
Aug 9th- US PGA Championship, Kiawah Island

I'll update further when more events get confirmed.

Phil Mickelson Takes Piss Out Of Tiger Woods Perfectly With Just One Sentence

Phil Mickelson may not act like it most of the time in public, but he has one of the best and most cutting senses of humour on Tour.

And when arch rival Tiger Woods decided this week to skip press conferences and send a video instead, Leftie wasn't going to miss the opportunity to have a go.

He enters the Quail Hollow press room for his own press conference, peers out at the journos all serious and says “Didn’t you guys see my video?”

Laughter and applause. Classic!

Revealed: Who Cynically Hacked Down Billy Foster.

 

Technorati Tags: Billy Foster Funny Pic,2012 Wells Fargo Championship Betting Preview and tips

Billy Foster Tear's Knee Ligaments As Gazza Impression Goes Horribly Wrong

Legendary caddie Billy Foster may miss the US and British Opens after a freak injury involving a darn soccer ball.

Foster who was in Charlotte with Lee Westwood at the Wells Fargo Championship was just after telling fellow European Tour caddies he was too old to play in a mess around game, when he lunged to kick the ball and blew out ligaments in his knee.

"Yep you're too old alright," said an unnamed caddie just after.

''They asked me if I wanted to play, and my answer was I was too old for that. It was too dangerous,'' Foster on crutches said. ''I was just there to watch. Before the match, they were kicking the ball around, like I do at home with my boys. I stretched, and as soon as I planted, my knee collapsed. I heard it rip and crack, and I knew I was in trouble.''

Doctor's revealed Foster had torn ligaments and would be out for 6 to 8 weeks.  Casey Kerr is set to deputise.
Billy Foster is the second most famous caddie in the world, after Stevie Williams who is a great front runner.

Mystery Black Taylormade R11s Spotted At Wells Fargo

Top marks to a golfwrx reader who spotted a Callaway staffer using what appeared to be a black Taylormade R11s driver.This can only mean one of two things.

• White is gone. Lost forever. Black is back and was better all along.
• He has got a sharpie marker and coloured in his R11s so that his Callaway sponsors wouldn't get angry! 

Do you have an explanation? Or better still, know the player?

A little birdie says it might be Garth Mulroy with a deadly sharpie!

Old Golfer Searching For Balls In Lake And Holding Up Play "Filleted" By Alligator As Really Good Idea Goes Wrong

Here's another good one from the USA, and from Florida of course, about one of those old guys who only brings his golf bag on the course to use as a vessel to hold balls retrieved from ponds. Albert Miller, 75, was "playing" the Lake Ashton Golf & Country Club in Lake Wales. 
Miller was just doing what old boys do, loitering around a pond on the 15th  searching for balls, when the resident alligator, who doesn't like people holding up play, decided to teach him a lesson.Ripping, biting, gouging, gashes, contusions, gaping wounds, stitches: all the usual stuff ensued but Mr Miller survived.
"I got four Pro V1's and Pinnacle Gold", the pensioner said afterwards from  his hospital bed. "I have more stitches than a hot air balloon  but it was well worth it!"

Shocker! Newspaper Makes Up “Tiger Woods Caught Scoping Chicks in Vegas” Headline Just To Sell More Copies

Shame on the New York Post for suggesting that Tiger Woods was being anything less than the monk with a vow of chastity we all know he is with their story about him scoping out girls in Las Vegas at the weekend.

According to the rag:

The fallen golf great was surveying bikini-clad girls at the Liquid Pool at Aria Resort and Casino on Saturday. Woods made a low-key entrance through the back door and relaxed in a cabana with a few male friends and “good-looking girls,” said witnesses. Soon a group of women began fighting to get his attention. One source said, “There was a frenzy . . . many girls were trying to get up to his cabana, but were unsuccessful.” Woods, coming off his worst performance ever at the Masters, “seemed to be more interested in the people he was with.”

While I like the definition of the “liquid pool” as if there’s any other type and appreciate the pun about Tiger’s “back door entrance”, I find this article thoroughly distasteful and at the level of a very popular and highly satirical internet golf blog. Yuk!

 

Technorati Tags: Tiger Woods,New York Post,Funny Story

Tiger Decides Aljazeera Style Video Works Way Better Than Press Conference

A video has emerged of Tiger Woods answering 19 facebook and twitter questions on the eve of his Quail Hollow appearance.  The grainy film, posted on his website, starts with Woods sitting legs crossed with an AK-47 speaking the words “Now listen carefully press infidels….”  Voice recognition experts have confirmed it is actually Woods speaking in the video.  He appears pale and gaunt, probably the result of hiding out in caves between tournaments in a desperate attempt to evade capture by the media.

Some Of The Things Woods Says In the video (click here to watch it):

On what he’s working on: "At the Masters, I was kind of struggling with my ball-striking a little bit," he said. "Sean and I fixed it. It had to do with posture. My setup wasn't quite right, as well as my takeaway. I just needed to do hundreds of reps. I'm getting dialed in."

On ever having had a double eagle:  He said he has made two during the 90’s but only in practice.

On his favourite trophy; The Claret Jug

On his monster putt at Sawgrass: "I wasn't trying to make it," he said. "I was trying to get it close and not three-putt. I was trying not to lose a shot. I'll take those accidents."

On his best putt ever: Four footer on 18th at Augusta in 1997. "To set the record, all the history it meant at the time, to have my dad there at the back of the green," he said. "By far it was the biggest."

On will he win this week: "I feel like I do, yes. I feel like if I do the things that we've been working on, and get my posture and takeaway dialled in, then yes, I feel like I have a good chance. I'm going to a golf course I like in Charlotte. I've won there before. The very next week is a tournament that I've also won at. They're two ball-striking events. You've got to hit the ball really well there at those two tournaments to give yourself a chance, and make a few putts at the same time. I'm looking forward to that."

Technorati Tags: Tiger Woods Facebook Twitter Press Conference Funny Video

“Humpty” Billy Gagged After Annoying Players In Locker Room

by Ron for golfcentraldaily.com in Charlotte

Billy Haas is in hot water with the PGA Tour after several complaints came in from fellow players regarding Haas’ incessant rambling about Nursery Rhymes in the players locker room at the recent RBC Heritage event.

“He just wouldn’t give up ranting about Humpty Dumpty” said fellow pro Carl Pettersson. “He questioned the reasoning behind sending ALL the King’s horses and ALL the King’s men to attempt to put an egg back together. Billy said something like

‘Why did they need to send them ALL? Surely a delegation would have been better.  What if the country had been invaded while ALL the King’s elite soldiers and horses were off fixing a damn egg?  Seems a bit wreckless and irresponsible.  And another thing, how could horses with hooves instead of fingers have the tactile versatility and precision to glue together an egg?’ 

He was getting really upset foaming at the mouth and stuff,” Pettersson added.

The North Carolina native has been banned from speaking to anyone except his caddie at this week’s Wells Fargo Championship in his home state of North Carolina.  It’s believed Haas has been recently studying Little Miss Muffet and was planning to question fellow pros on the credibility of “Curds and Whey” as a foodstuff.

 

Technorati Tags: Billy Haas funny pic,funny golf story,golf satire

Teaching Bay: Misconceptions About Hitting A Draw

We’ve given Bendy Kennedy the week off to shoot more Yoga snaps and vids for us.  Ever since Bubba’s draw shot at the Masters we’ve had lots of requests asking exactly how to work the ball with modern clubs. So we took the opportunity to ask one of the Ireland’s best teachers Wayne O’Callaghan.

The first step you need to understand to hit a draw which is a shot that curves from right to left for a right handed player is that you will need to aim the clubface where you want the ball to start not the flag. If you were to aim at the flag the ball will start there and draw away from it, so its important you aim right of where you want the ball to finish.

The body should be aligned to the right of you target line as demonstrated in the picture with the alignment rods. The path of the swing will have to be swung on the bodys alignment not the target line. It should feel as if you are swinging out to the right of the target line but with the clubface square to the target line it will produce hook spin which will curve the ball from right to left.

A common misconception is that if you aim the clubface at the flag and simply align the body to the right of target the ball will start right and draw to the target. This is false as the clubface will dictate the path the ball starts on.

For more details check out www.wayneocallaghangolf.com

2012 Open de Espana Free Golf Betting Preview and Tips

Reale Seguros Open de España, Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, Seville, Spain 03 May 2012 - 06 May 2012

also check out my 2012 Wells Fargo Championship Betting Tips here

Alex Noren 30/1

We tipped Alex last week and though he finished just outside the money places we are sticking with him for one more week. Noren has the fitness to get back from Korea and contend straight away here in Seville. Opened with a horror 75 at the Ballantine’s last week but battled back with rounds of 66, 69, 69 for his second consecutive top-10. Has gone low on this course before and definitely worth a look.

Nico Colsaerts 16/1

Took last week off after his second in China and now has a haul of five top-10’s for the season including a second, third and fourth. The Belgian played well here in 2010, the last time the event was staged at this venue. That one was won by Alvaro Quiros, another huge hitter. This time around Colsaerts is the form player of the two.

George Coetzee 26/1

A win must be coming soon for George Coetzee as he bears down on Tour start number 69 in Seville this week. The South African brings back to back top10’s home from the Asian swing and appeared full of confidence when interviewed for TV at Blackstone. Missed the cut at elPrat last year but I cant see a recurrence of that. Quite the opposite in fact, I expect him to contend.

Paul Lawrie 27/1

You could make a case for Peter (winner here in 2008) or Paul Lawrie but I’m going for the Scot this week. A winner in Qatar and on a decent run since , reaching the last 16 of the WGC Matchplay, playing well at Augusta and again in China. Lawrie tied for fifth last year at El Prat and has played well in Seville before too finishing tied for sixth here in 2010.

Best Of The Rest

It’s only tournament number 40 for the young French star Romain Wattel (80/1) and he has already notched up four top-10’s, two of which have been in Spain. In the sixties at the weekend again in Korea where he tied for 12^th and definitively one to watch.

Francesco Molinari 18/1 is a man with no top 10 in this last five staging’s of this event but watching him in China two weeks back there was definitely more than a glimmer of hope. He’s been in the top 20 in his last five events and due a break soon.

Click below for more.

Technorati Tags: 2012 Open de Espana Betting Preview and Tips,Paddypower golf betting tips,betfair golf betting tips,top european tour tipster,2012 wells Fargo Championship Free Golf Betting Preview and Tips

2012 Wells Fargo Championship Free Golf Betting Preview and Tips

Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, Purse: $6,500,000
Winner Alright: Last week we tipped winner Jason Dufner at 30/1, and Luke Donald third at 12/1
early odds on exchanges

Bill Haas 50/1

Haas was actually born in Charlotte and played his college golf at Wake Forest like his Dad Jay before him. Missed the cut last time out at the RBC Heritage but I expect a big week from the Demon Deacons alumni. Already a winner at the Northern Trust back in February, Haas finished fourth here last year and has vital experience on this extremely tough track.

Jonathan Byrd 85/1

Last year Byrd came off two missed cuts to just lose out in a playoff to Lucas Glover. Rested since a top-30 at Augusta, Byrd is another who knows the course well both as professional and amateur having attended Clemson University and could be worth a look from extremely generous odds of 85/1.

Jim Furyk 40/1

Great to see Jim Furyk returning to form in this Ryder Cup year and he will be hoping to ensure his place on the Team bus with another big week on a course tailor made for his game. Though without a win since the 2010 Tour Championship, Jim has come close recently at the Transitions losing a playoff to Luke Donald. Just out of the top 10 at Arnie’s event and the Masters, then eighth last time out at Hilton Head. A past winner here in 2006, Furyk been 11^th or better in three of the last four stagings.

Phil Mickelson 13/1

I rarely back Phil after a layoff but he loves the greens at Quail Hollow and always gives value for money. Had this event by scruff of the neck last year until a poor back nine on the Saturday set him back. Nevertheless Leftie has a record of finishing 12^th or better every year since 2007 with a best of second to McIlroy (who plays this week) in 2010. Has already been first (Pebble Beach), second (Riviera), third (Augusta) and fourth (Houston) this season!

Best Of The Rest

I’m going with locals this week! Webb Simpson 42/1was born in Charlotte and like Bill Haas attended Wake Forest University. He knows Quail Hollow inside out and I saw a fresh spark in him last week in New Orleans where he posted his first under par finish in four events coming 13^th. Belly putters seem to do well on the greens also and I give Webb a real chance. Finished 21^st last year, a poor 74 on Saturday spoiled his week. Former Major champ Lucas Glover 160/1 went to Clemson in South Carolina and is also a course specialist. As well as winning last season he has finished tied for second here in 2009 and tied fourth in 2006 on a course ranked second toughest on the PGA Tour’s rota outside Majors.
Useful Previous Top Tens

2012 Zurich Classic Of New Orleans Final Round Highlights - PGA Tour

Congratulations to Jason Dufner on his breakthrough PGA Tour win at the 2012 Zurich Classic.  Here are the final round and playoff highlights.




and here are Final Round Highlights of the 2012 Ballantine's Championship in Korea on the European Tour.

Winner Alright: We Tip Dufner To Win Zurich Classic

A great weekend for our golf betting tips with first Marcus Fraser tying third in Korea from 32/1 and then Jason Dufner holding strong for a win from 32/1.  A bet of €10 each way on Jason would have yielded €400 plus your stake.

Make sure you check out our 2012 Wells Fargo and Open deEspana betting tips this week on golfcentraldaily and podcast on Newstalk's Golf Weekly.